When it comes to flagship smartphones, Apple, Samsung and Google are probably the first brands that come to mind. But ignore OnePlus at your peril.
The Chinese company is great at making high-end phones and has unveiled the OnePlus 13 as a strong contender to become the next best Android phone.
It’s set to bring a wave of excitement to the flagship phones market, especially with its upgraded Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, capacious silicon-carbon battery and a waterproof rating better than key rivals.
Here’s everything you need to know about its release date, pricing, and specs.
When will the OnePlus 13 be released?
The OnePlus 13 has been officially launched in China on 31 October 2024.
While the initial launch was limited to the Chinese market, OnePlus has confirmed that the phone will roll out to global markets next month, with the date the winner of a competition alongside the launch being 7 January 2025. It feels like that’s the most likely launch date at this stage.
Here’s how it looked in previous years:
- OnePlus 12 – February 2024
- OnePlus 12R – February 2024
- OnePlus 11 – February 2023
- OnePlus 10 Pro – March 2022
- OnePlus 9 – March 2021
- OnePlus 9 Pro – March 2021
What’s more, you can sign up now for a chance to win a £220 Bang & Olufsen Beosound Explore speaker or one of the Explorers Adventure Calendars, offering you the chance to embark on an epic journey worth £25,000 and receive the OnePlus 13 completely for free.
The OnePlus 13R, which is expected to be slightly weaker in terms of specifications model, is also expected to launch alongside or shortly after the OnePlus 13. Based on the company’s previous launches, the ‘R’ should follow a few months after the arrival of the flagship model, but we might be getting it sooner.
The OnePlus Ace 5, which is likely to be rebranded as the 13R globally, is already confirmed for a December 2024 launch in China.
OnePlus
What’s more, OnePlus is reportedly working on a compact flagship phone featuring the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, potentially part of the OnePlus Ace lineup.
Leaker Digital Chat Station (via Android Headlines) and GizChina’s report suggest it could debut in December 2024 as well, possibly under the name Ace 5 Pro.
Will all of these devices be released globally? That remains to be seen.
How much will the OnePlus 13 cost?
In China, the OnePlus 13 comes in several configurations and price points, starting from CNY 4,499 (£520/$632 converted) for the base model with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the pricing:
- 12GB/256GB – CNY 4,499 (£520/$632)
- 12GB/512GB – CNY 4,899 (£565/$688)
- 16GB/512GB – CNY 5,299 (£610/$744)
- 24GB/1TB – CNY 5,999 (£690/$842)
International prices are yet to be disclosed, so UK and US pricing are likely to be higher than the figures above. Previous models give us a good idea of what to expect:
- OnePlus 12 – from £849/$799
- OnePlus 12R – from £649/$599
- OnePlus 11 – from £729/$699
- OnePlus 10 Pro – from £799/$899
- OnePlus 9 – from £629/$729
- OnePlus 9 Pro – from £829/$1,069
The OnePlus 12 saw a significant price rise compared to the 11, but we don’t expect that to be repeated in the next generation. While tech in general has been getting more expensive, OnePlus will want to still undercut flagships from the likes of Apple, Samsung and Google on price.
However, according to Digital Chat Station, the top-tier model of the phone (24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage) is expected to be more expensive than the OnePlus 12 equivalent.
What specs and features will the OnePlus 13 have?
Design
OnePlus 13 adopts a refined 2.5D quad-curved structure for its display, a slight departure from the fully curved designs of previous models.
This design offers a flat look with gentle curves on all four sides, making it shorter and more compact than its predecessor, even with a 6.82-inch screen.
The OnePlus 13 also achieves an IP69 rating, protecting it from dust and high-pressure water jets, which is a step up from the IP68 ratings seen in previous models and almost every rival.
The Chinese version is available in White, Obsidian, and Blue colour options, giving users a variety of stylish finishes to choose from.
According to the official press release, it will be available globally in all three colours as well.
Display
The display on the OnePlus 13 is one of its standout features. It sports a 6.82-inch BOE X2 OLED 8T LTPO panel with a 1440p resolution and a dynamic refresh rate that ranges from 1-120Hz.
OnePlus
The screen has a typical brightness of 800 nits and can supposedly reach a peak brightness of 4,500 nits, making it one of the brightest screens on the market.
There’s also an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner embedded under the display for quick and secure access to the device.
Performance
The OnePlus 13 is powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, paired with up to 24GB of RAM and 1TB of internal storage for the top model.
According to leaker Arsène Lupin, the global variant of the OnePlus 13 will be available in two configurations: 12GB of RAM with 256GB of storage and 16GB of RAM with 512GB of storage.
What’s more, the 12GB/256GB version will only be offered in the Black Eclipse colour.
OnePlus
Additionally, OnePlus has equipped the device with a large 602mm³ vibration motor that offers “gaming controller level feedback,” adding a tactile edge to the user experience.
Cameras
The OnePlus 13 continues the brand’s collaboration with Hasselblad, delivering a triple-camera setup designed for high-quality photography in diverse conditions.
The main camera is equipped with a 50Mp Sony LYT-808 sensor with Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS). This primary camera, with a 23mm equivalent focal length, should be versatile for most day-to-day photography needs.
OnePlus
The second camera is a 50Mp telephoto lens with a 3x periscope zoom, utilising the LYT-600 sensor. This setup offers a 73mm equivalent focal range that should allow users to capture crisp, detailed images from a distance without losing quality.
Lastly, the OnePlus 13 includes a 50Mp ultrawide lens with a 15mm equivalent focal length, using Samsung’s S5KJN5 sensor. This camera also doubles as a macro lens, giving users the flexibility to take both sweeping landscape shots and highly detailed close-ups.
Recently, the OnePlus 13 has also received a software update that introduces a Macro Mode. This feature can be accessed through a petal icon in the default camera app, allowing users to take macro photos using the phone’s 50Mp ultrawide camera.
The global version of this phone will likely have access to this feature from the start.
Battery and charging
Battery life is a strong point for the OnePlus 13, which includes a massive 6000mAh silicon-carbon battery.
It supports 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging, allowing for quick and convenient top-ups.
OnePlus
With optimised battery management in ColorOS 15 (China) or OxygenOS 15 (international), the OnePlus 13 promises long-lasting usage without frequent recharges.
Software
As said above, the OnePlus 13 runs ColorOS 15 based on Android 15 in China, while the global variants will feature OxygenOS 15. Both OS versions are tailored to take full advantage of the OnePlus 13’s hardware capabilities.
Enhanced customisation options, efficient multitasking, and smoother animations make for a refined and responsive user experience, catering to both casual and advanced users.
At this point, we don’t know for how long the OnePlus 13 will receive software support. It’ll be interesting to see if OnePlus matches Google and Samsung in offering seven years of updates.
The current four years of OS updates and five years of security patches for the OnePlus 12 is already pretty good, though.
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Author: Artur Tomala, Mobile Writer, Tech Advisor
Artur is a Mobile Writer at Tech Advisor, where he covers a range of smartphone, tablet and smartwatch-related topics. He has been working in the tech industry since 2021, including time spent leading a team focused on mobile news, reviews and product rankings. As an ambassador for the productivity app Notion, he runs training workshops and creates advanced templates to help people stay organised and productive.